The Sabon Scoop

Selecting Your Signature Scent

May 5th, 2009 12:00 am

Nothing has more power to transform moods, boost energy and inspire confidence, than your personal fragrance. Choosing a fragrance that you love and that expresses who you are is about more than picking a perfume. From the scented candle on your bedroom dresser to your office drawer liners, your favorite scent can make an enormous difference to how you feel and experience your surroundings. But how do you identify your signature scent? Here are some tips.

The best fragrances are always those that have a positive impact on how you feel. This means you should choose a fragrance that you are naturally drawn to. If you love very feminine fashions, and you always choose more elegant accessories for your home, chances are that floral scents such as freesia, sweet pea or jasmine probably sit well with you. Richer floral scents and vanilla notes often sit well with independent spirits; sweeter than the subtle floral scents - and expressing more warmth - scents such as cinnamon, coconut or pumpkin exude confidence. People with athletic or active lifestyles often feel challenged when it comes to choosing a fragrance, simply because their schedule involves so many different facets. By picking scents that are both feminine and crisp – everything from a zesty citrus body dew to a refreshing apple scented body lotion – you can keep mind and body fresh, clean and invigorated all day long.

2. Choose a fragrance that works with your environment.

Depending on where you are in your life and what your lifestyle demands from you, the best fragrances are those that get you into a mood that makes you feel comfortable and at ease. Maybe your sleep environment needs some help. By introducing aromatic oils infused with lavender, such as a Provence reed diffuser, you can lull even the most worked up minds into peaceful dreams. If you are instead seeking a more sensual environment, introduce earthy or exotic tones – such as bamboo and amber, or coconut and patchouli. Reed Diffusers offer sweet tones that won’t become overpowering, and disperse the subtle tones of each scent through drawer liners inserted where you keep your clothes and linen. For an invigorating bathroom environment, choose a fragrance that is spiked with fresh and fruity notes. Tropical or clean musk scents will make you feel refreshed every morning when you enter for your shower.

3. Choose a fragrance that improves your comfort and wellbeing.

Some of us have very stressful lives, where we are always at the verge of exhaustion. It is important to give yourself time and space to relax and recharge, whether it is for five minutes at the kitchen counter or hours in your favorite armchair. How to choose a fragrance may seem like something you just don’t have time for when every day is a race to meet important deadlines, but it can make a tremendous difference. By introducing smaller fragrant details into your surroundings, you can help yourself unwind and renew. For example, put apple cinnamon mint soap in your bathroom and every time you wash your hands you will breathe in the kind of sweet, warm and therapeutic powers that help alleviate stress and fight exhaustion. Or, add a few drops of geranium and sandal woodscented massage oil to your next manicure, and you may feel some of your pain, stress and fatigue melt away.

Your signature scent has the power to transform your every day experiences. Whatever your personality, lifestyle and dreams, the best fragrances are those that make you feel good.